Device for setting the leakage rate for a leakage at a gap-like opening

Abstract

The present invention relates to a measure for minimizing an undesired passage of fluid from a first sector ( 1 ) to a second sector ( 2 ) separated by a non-fluid-tight separation ( 3 ), wherein a first pressure (P 1 - 1 ) prevails in the first sector ( 1 ) and a lower second pressure (P 2 - 1 ) than the first pressure (P 1 - 1 ) prevails in the second sector ( 2 ). An intermediate chamber ( 4 ) which separates the two sectors ( 1, 2 ) from one another is arranged at the separation ( 3 ). A conveyor mechanism ( 5 ) is further provided which is designed to convey fluid from the intermediate chamber ( 4 ) to the first sector ( 1 ) in order to generate a lower pressure in the intermediate chamber ( 4 ) than the first pressure (P 1 - 1 ) prevailing in the first sector ( 1 ), wherein the pressure (P 4 - 1 ) generated in the intermediate chamber ( 4 ) is just as high or higher than the second pressure (P 2 - 1 ) prevailing in the second sector ( 2 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for minimizing the risk of fire and extinguishing fires in an enclosed room, comprising:
 transferring thermal energy through a rotating heat exchanger system between a warm fluid and a cold fluid said rotating heat exchanger system having a rotatable rotor, flowing the warm fluid through a first sector and flowing the cold fluid through a second sector, 
 maintaining a spatial separation between the first sector and the second sector, 
 rotating the rotatable rotor having ducts parallel to its rotational axis and extending through the spatial separation, the rotor passing through the first and second sectors upon rotation, 
 setting a leakage rate of a gap opening between a front face of the separation and a lateral surface of the rotor to a pre-defined value via a leakage rate setting device having a sealing body with at least one chamber and a pipe system connected to said at least one chamber and supplying the chamber with fluid in a regulated manner, the sealing body at least partially formed of a flexible material having a cross-section expandable in a direction of leakage upon fluid being supplied to the at least one chamber, 
 drawing the warm fluid from the closed room using a first ventilator system, 
 flowing such drawn warm fluid through a first sector of the rotating rotor and thereafter feeding the warm fluid back into the closed room, 
 flowing the cold fluid through a second sector of the rotating rotor via a second ventilator system, 
 introducing an oxygen displacing gas to lower oxygen content in the enclosed room to a predefined combustibly inert level, and 
 expanding a cross-section of the sealing body by supplying fluid to the at least one chamber of the sealing body such that the gap between the front face of the separation and the lateral surface of the rotor is at least partly sealed in a controlled manner. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of stopping the rotation of the rotor in the event of a fire or risk of fire in the enclosed room. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of expanding the cross-section of the sealing body such that the gap between the front face of the separation and the lateral surface of the rotor is completely sealed. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of measuring the oxygen content in the enclosed room at predefined times, and maintaining the oxygen content which has been lowered to the inert level by introducing additional oxygen displacing gas. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of expanding the cross-section of the sealing body such that the gap between the front face of the separation and the lateral surface of the rotor is completely sealed. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of measuring the oxygen content in the enclosed room at predefined times, and maintaining the oxygen content which has been lowered to the inert level by introducing additional oxygen displacing gas. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of detecting whether a fire characteristic is present in the enclosed room at predefined times using a fire detecting device, and stopping one or both of the first ventilator system and the second ventilator system in the event of a risk of a fire in the enclosed room. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of measuring the oxygen content in the enclosed room at predefined times, and maintaining the oxygen content which has been lowered to the inert level by introducing additional oxygen displacing gas. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of measuring the oxygen content in the enclosed room at predefined times, and maintaining the oxygen content which has been lowered to the inert level by introducing additional oxygen displacing gas. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of detecting whether a fire characteristic is present in the enclosed room at predefined times using a fire detecting device, and stopping one or both of the first ventilator system and the second ventilator system in the event of a fire or the risk of a fire in the enclosed room. 
     
     
       11. A system to minimize the risk of fire and to extinguish fires in an enclosed room, wherein the system comprises the following:
 a rotating heat exchanger system to transfer thermal energy between a warm fluid and a cold fluid, wherein the rotating heat exchanger system comprises the following:
 a first sector through which flows the warm fluid and a second sector through which flows the cold fluid; 
 a separation which spatially separates the first sector and the second sector from one another; 
 a rotating heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from the warm fluid flow to a cold fluid flow, wherein the rotating heat exchanger comprises a rotatable-mounted rotor exhibiting ducts parallel to its rotational axis and extending through a rotor opening running through the separation such that it passes through the first and second sectors upon rotation; and 
 at least one device for setting a leakage rate of a gap opening between a front face of the separation and a lateral surface of the rotor to a predefined value, wherein the device comprises a sealing body having at least one chamber and a pipe system connected to said at least one chamber through which the chamber can be supplied with fluid in a regulated manner, wherein the sealing body is at least partly formed from a flexible material and its cross-section expandable in a direction of a leakage upon fluid being supplied to the at least one chamber; 
 a first ventilator system to draw the warm fluid from the enclosed room such that the drawn fluid flows through the first sector of the rotating heat exchanger system and is thereafter fed back to the enclosed room again: 
 a second ventilator system to effect the flowing of a cold fluid through the second sector of the rotating heat exchanger system; 
 a system to supply an oxygen-displacing gas, and 
 a controller arranged and constructed to control at least some of the controllable components of the system. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 11 , wherein a retainer is further provided to hold the sealing body. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the controller is designed to adjust the cross-sectional expanding of the sealing body effected by the supply of fluid as a function of a predefined maximum allowable leakage rate for the leakage. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the controller is designed to adjust the cross-sectional expanding of the sealing body effected by the supply of fluid as a function of the rotational speed of the rotor. 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the controller is designed to adjust the cross-sectional expanding of the sealing body effected by the supply of fluid as a function of a predefined maximum allowable leakage rate for the leakage. 
 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is designed to adjust the cross-sectional expanding of the sealing body by setting the amount of fluid to be supplied to the at least one chamber. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 16 , wherein to supply a pressurized fluid, a source connected or connectable to the at least one chamber via the pipe system is further provided for the regulated supplying of the pressurized fluid to the at least one chamber. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is designed to adjust the cross-sectional expanding of the sealing body effected by the supply of fluid as a function of the rotational speed of the rotor.